Fluid conducting system

ABSTRACT

A fluid conducting system having at least three substantially flat, superposable fluid conducting plates and a separating plate between each thereof. The fluid conducting plates and the separating plates are arranged in a stack. Each of the fluid conducting plates has elongated channel means therein arranged in a plurality of parallel columns. The channel means open outwardly on one side. The separating plates are made of a perforatable material and have markings at those locations wherein the longitudinal axes of the elongated channel means cross each other. Thus, a selective perforation of at least one of the separating plates will define a selected fluid conducting system within the stack.

Klee

111 3,814,126 5] June 4,1974

[ FLUID CONDUCTING SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Gerhard Klee, Frankfort,Germany [73] Assignee: Samson Apparatebau AG,

Frankfurt/M, Germany 1221 Filed: Sept. 5, 1972 211 Appl.No.:286,240

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3/1972 Klee 137/608 4/1972 Kinner137/608 Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Attorney, Agent, orFirmWoodhams, Blanchard & Flynn 5 7 ABSTRACT .A fluid conducting systemhaving at least three substantially flat, superposable fluid conductingplates Sept. 15, Germany and a separating plat et een each the eof. heconducting plates and the separating plates are ar- [52] US. Cl. ..l.;.l..7(:3l7{)(:)081l537/58/(3)3 ranged in a Stack Each of the fluidconducting plates [5 l 1 if? 1 561 269 has elongated channel meanstherein arranged in a [581' 0 are l 1 5 plurality of parallel columns.The channel means open outwardly on one side. The separating plates aremade I f of a perforatable material and have markings, at those [56] Reerences Cue locations wherein the longitudinal axes of the elon- U ITSTATES PATENTS gated channel means cross each other. Thus. a selec- 3,391,703 7/1968 Kay 138/269 tive perforationof at least one of theseparating plates 3,465,774 9/1969 Kant; et a1 137/608 X will define aselected fluid conducting system within 3.472.259 l0/l969 Hatch, .lr. etal. 235/201 the stack. 3,547,139 12/1970 Berkum 137/608 X Y 3,588,4546/1971 Pfeiffer 235/201 9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 8 9 2 an u' (lllll!W///A .2

a I A Q 23 sfiaxfisiei!5.939%. ?......P..i- 25 14 l-/ I! -/-/-/--////-l-/I/II'KI ai\\\\ik\\i QZL K i7 PATENTEDJUM 419M 3.814.126

. SHEU 1 BF 5 II)! I 1 FLUID CONDUCTING SYSTEM I FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a conductor system for pneumatically orhydraulically operating switch, control or regulating units andparticularly to such a system comprising two cover plates which are heldtogether by a screw connection, between which cover plates at least twoconducting plates are inserted which have channels open on one side andserving as conduits in cooperation with one of the cover plates and aninterposed separating plate. Thus, the pressure potential of one planecan be transferred into the other plane through multiple openings eachof which connect with one another two superposed channels which areprovided in the conducting plates and in the separating plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In such a unitary conductor system theindividual conducting'connections for the switching elements to beconnected through the conductor system are created through severing ofwebs of the channels of the conducting plates, which channels are openon one side.

Aside from the fact that it is difficult to sever the webs in conductingplates which consist of soft, elastic and effective sealing material,since the conducting plates often distort during severing and may becomepartly crushed, the arrangement of channels which form a repetitivegeometric pattern, which arrangement as a ruleis provided in only oneplane, requires relatively much room in the conducting plate. If theconducting connection is arranged in two planes, then holes must bepunched which additionally extend through conducting plates andseparating plates. Further more the conducting plates are, in order tosimplify their handling, connected to a fixed metallic base which isalso complicated and expensive. Finally, considerable progress has beenmade in the miniaturization of the switching elements to be connected sothat relatively small switching elements are connected throughrelatively large conductorsystems. To avoid this disadvantage.- inpractice the previous technique is used to manufacture the channelswhich are required to a conducting connection individually withinconducting plates which are referenced to dimensions and connections(compare also US. Pat. No. 3,407,834). ln addition to the errors whichare possible during the manufacture of the channels, this method isexpensive and time consuming.

the conducting plates, the separating plate being provided at the pointsof intersection of the grid with markings for providing the holes. Thechannels of the conducting plate are preferably connected respectivelywithin the same conducting units and these are arranged to correspond insize to the switching elements to be connected. Finally, a thirdconducting plate is provided in a third plane and has slots lying in thesame grid, which slots connect respectively the points of intersectionof the last set of holes of the one conducting unit with the points ofintersection of the first set "of holes of the adjacent conducting unit,while a second separating plate which lies between the second and thirdconducting plates has only in these points of intersection markings forfacilitating the making of the holes.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, the one coverplate of the conducting system is constructed as a planar rail and theother cover plate I for each individual switching element, there isprovided The basic purpose of the invention is to improve the knownconductor systems which are built from logic elements, to substantiallylimit their requirement for space and to build their structural parts-insuch a manner that with a simple basic connection complex conductingconnections can be inexpensively created solely by providing holes inrelatively stiff structural parts.

Starting from a conductor system of the type menwithin itself a socketfor receiving such switching element, which in a manner, which will yetbe described. can be connected through a further conductor systemaccording to the invention. I

Certain individual parts of the profiled rail, which parts which are tobe identified as caps, have openings which serve for the input andoutput of pressure medium. These openings are threaded holes which arealso arranged in the points of intersection of the grid.

The construction of the conducting plates is especially advantageous ifaccording to a further characteristic of the invention each conductingunit is formed of two conducting plates which have each as many parallelpositioned channels as the structural part to be switched has inlets andoutlets. These are, when-the conducting plates are positioned one abovethe other,

arranged in two planes crosswise one above the other.

The number of channels of the conducting unit of one conducting platecan, however, also be one 'whole multiple of the number of channels ofthe second conducting plate.

The conducting plates carrying the channels consist according to theinvention of one soft nonmetallic material, while the plates which serveto create the con- .ducting course andiwhich are provided with markings,

consist of a relatively thin hard metallic material.

Such a conductor system has a number of advantages. The conductingplates which consist of a soft elastic material are provided on the oneside with channels which open on the one side and are positionedparallel to one another and on the other side with all of the passageholes required for creating the desired conducting connection, thus donot need any further treatment. The holes which are needed for providinga switching connection, and which conduct pressure potential from theone switching plane to the other, need to be provided only in therelatively thin separating 3 plates which consist of an easily punchablematerial, for example aluminum. The construction of the cover plates asa smooth plate and a profiled rail permit a simple and operation-safestructure of the conducting system since the sensitive conducting platesare protected through both rails from outside influences. The capscreated by the division of the profiled rails simplify the mounting ofthe switching elements which are to be connected. These caps also havethe holes for the inputs and outputs for the conductor system and have,of course, also the holes which connect the connections of the switchingelements to the holes of the uppermost conducting plate. Holeswhich arenot needed can be tightly closed by screws in a simple manner. The flatrail has only holes for introduction of the screws which connect it tothe caps which are arranged in series in any desired number. It too canbe divided. Particularly advantageous is the limiting of the length ofchannels arranged in the conducting plates to the size of the switchingelements to be connected, thus to the cap width. In this manner, on theone hand, there can be created conducting plates which arestill'relatively stiff and easily handled and on the other hand, byrepeating the one basic unit, conducting systems of any desired lengthcan be created. The channels of two conducting plates of twoside-by-side arranged switching units which channels are arrangedsimilarly to a matrix and which permit any desired switching of aswitching element, are each-connected to one another through the slotsin the third conducting plate so that viewed in cross section ameander-shaped conducting course over the length of a conductor systemis created. Therefore conducting plates of a suitable length can bemanufactured and can then be cut to the desired length without, however,because of this, limiting the length of the conductor system. Finally,all conducting connections of the conductor system can be illustrated inone plane in the plan of a switching diagram.

In case that more than five channels per conducting unit are needed forthe switching of one switching element, according to a furthercharacteristic of the invention, two conductor systems of theabove-named type are arranged one above the other between the coverplates, between which a further separating plate is arranged andwhereinfurther holes connecting the channels of the first conducting plates ofthe conductor systems are provided in the conducting plates.

The switching of several functional groups which are formed by means ofthe inventive conductor system to larger functional groups isparticularly simple if according to a third exemplary embodiment of theinvention two or more of the inventive conductor systems according tothe first exemplary embodiment are assembled directly. For this purpose,the oppositely positioned cover plates of the conductor systems have fastening holes for mechanically connecting the conductor systems andopenings for transferring the pressure potential from one conductorsystem to the other. Separating plates are again provided between eachtwo conductor systems of the aforementioned type, which separatingplates have also markings which lie in the points of intersection of thecommon grid for facilitating the creating of holes.

Even though the conducting plates are arranged one above the other inseveral planes, one does not lose the advantage of this conductor systemthat the switching diagram of a switch, control or regulating unit andthe determination'of the holes required for creating the actualconduction can be illustrated in one plane. In other conductor systemsfor logic elements, for example known from US. Pat. No. 3,516 436, theswitching diagrams must be set up three-dimensionally because the holesneeded for connection of the conduits are arranged within athree-dimensional system.

The invention is described in connection with three exemplaryembodiments which are more or less schematically illustrated in thedrawings, in which:

.FIG. 1 isa cross-sectional view of aconductor system according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conductor systemaccording to FIG. 1 for only three switching elements; 1

FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of the cover plate which isconstructed as a profiled rail;

FIG. 4 is a first conducting plate of the conductor system according toFIG. I, viewed from the bottom thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the conducting plate takenalong the line V-V in FIG. 4; v

FIG. 6 is atop view of a first separating plate for a conductor systemaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is 'a second conducting plate for a conductor system according toFIG. I, viewed from the bottom FIG. 9 is a top view of asecondseparatingplate of the conductor system according to FIG. 1',

FIG. 10 is a top view of a third conducting plate for the conductorsystem according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of aconductor system according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the exemplaryembodiment of theconductor system according to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a third separating plate for a'conductor systemaccording to FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a third exemplary embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. .15 is a cross-sectional view along ,the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION For reasons of simplicity the conductor systemwhich connects the individual switching elements of a pneumatic switch,control or regulating unit is limited only to the connection of threeswitching elements 1 which for example illustrate microswitches. I

The conductor system consists, as illustrated in FIG. 1, substantiallyof'an upper U-shaped profiled rail 2 which is divided into individualcap-like sections, the size of which is chosen to correspond to the sizeof the switching elements, a flat rail, or base, 5 which is connectedthrough screws 4 to the caps 2 and conducting plates 15, 25 and 35 whichare held between said rails and which are separated by separating plates26 and 27. The legs 6 of the profiled rail, thus of the individual caps,have shoulders which are arranged in such a manner that the smooth rail5 which abuts there compresses the conducting plates, which are made ofa soft elastic material, just enough to create safe sealing of the holesand channels of the conducting plates against one another and againstthe atmosphere.

Each of the mentioned caps has five bores 7 which in their positioncorrespond to the outputs and inputs of the switching elements, and fivebores 8 which are threaded. Each one of the bores 7 corresponds with onebore 8 in a manner that one bore 7 and one bore 8 each can be connectedthrough one of the channels, which will be described later, in theconducting plate 15. The bores 8 can either be tightly closed on theside facing the outside by screws 9 or, alternatively, can be preparedby screwing in tubular nipples 10 for the connection of input conduitsor output conduits.

Finally, threaded holes 11 are provided which are used to secure bymeans of the screws 3 each cap 2 on. the rail 5 which serves as carrier.For purposes of completeness, reference is also made to the threadedhole 12 which is used for connecting each switching element 1 to a cap 2by means of the screw 3.

The upper conducting plate 15 has for each switchin element and cap fivechannels 14 which are open on one side and are positioned verticallywith respect to the drawings as shown in FIG. 4. These channels arearranged in columns and in such a manner that they correspond with thefive'bores 7' and 8 of the cap 2. To connect these bores in one columnwith the mentioned channels, openings 13 are used in the channels 14,the axes of which are in alignment with the axes of the individual boresof the cap.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, five channels each are provided in each columnor conducting unit, the central channel of which in each unit is shorterin order to create room for holes 16 through which, in assembled stateof the conductor system, the screws 4'extend. Each conducting unit orcolumn is separated from the adjacent conducting unit by linesofweakness represented schematically by dash-dotted lines 50, along whichthe conducting plate can be separated. I

The second conducting plate has also for each switching element 1 andcap 2 five channels 17 each of which are open on one side and arepositioned horizontally with respect to the drawings, as shown in FIG.7, which channels are provided with openings 19 for connection to thechannels 14 of the conducting plate 15. Here too five channels each arearranged in one conducting unit andadjacent conductingunitsare separatedby lines of weakness represented schematically of the other, thechannels of the one conducting plate arerotated or oriented, here 90,with respect to the channels of the other conducting plate and allchannels in each column are-in one common grid in and at theintersection points are arranged openings 13 or 19 which extend throughthe conducting plates.

The conducting plate 25 has furthermore holes 18 which in assembledcondition receive the screws 4. Finally holes 20 which are positioned inthe same grid are provided, which holes serve in a manner, yet to'bedescribed, to transfer pressure potential from one conductor systeminto a different conductor system of the type illustrated in FIG. 11.

A, separating plate 26 is arranged between the conducting plates 15 and25 which separating plate 26 also has holes 38 for guiding fasteningscrews 4 therethrough and has markings 36 at the points of intersectionof the grid, along which the channels of the aforementioned conductingplates are arranged. By providing holes at these points, for example bypunching, conducting connections are created between the conductingplate 15 and the conducting plate 25. Furthermore,

markings 43 which arealso positioned in the grid are provided which incooperation with the holes 20 of the conducting plate 25 effect uponsuitable punching the already mentioned transfer of pressure potentialfrom one conductor system into a second system.

The conductor system is completed by a conducting plate 35, (FIGS. -.1and 10) which has holes 23, positioned appropriately to receive screws4, and holes 24 for transferring the pressure potential of one conductorsystem into a different conductor system. Further, there are five slots22 for connecting conducting units, said slots being positionedhorizontally in relation to FIG. 10. and which slots upon assembly ofthe conducting plates 15, 25 and 35 cover the intersection points of thelast set of holes of the one conducting unit of the conducting plates 15and 25 with the intersection points of the first set of holes of theadjacent conducting unit of said conducting plates. The separating lines50 are provided here also and are positioned in relation v to theseparating lines of the conducting plates 15 and 25 offset each by onehalf unit and thus intersect the holes 23. The conducting plates canalso be separated along said lines.

, A second separating plate 27, (FIG. 9), is provided r pressurepotential from one conductor system to a different such systemaccordingto the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11. l

The conducting plates 15, 25 and 35 are made of a compressible, aselastomeric, plastic. The separating plates '26 and 27, however, consistof a relatively thin material, for example, of aluminum sheet metal andcan also be separated along the lines 50. The U-shaped, profiled rail 2which is advantageously divided into cap-shaped sections may be made ofsteel but is preferably, however, of plastic. The flat rail 5 which isconstructed as an endless part is made of steel.

If the above-described conducting and separating plates are assembled toone conductor system of the type as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, thencorresponding with the chosen punching of the separating plates 26 and27 a conducting connection iscreated at the markings 36 and 37. Forexample a passageway may be provided from the connection 10 (FIG. 1)through the hole 13, the channel 14 and the hole 7 to the switchingelement 1. A further conducting connection may be provided to the nextswitching element (FIG. 2) from the channel 14 through the hole 19, thechannel 17, the slot 22 and thence through the channel 17, the hole 19,the channel 14 and the corresponding hole 13.

A second exemplaryembodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11and 12, in which two of the de scribed conductor systems are combined bymeans of the rail and the profiled rail 2. Here too the profiled rail 2is divided into individual cap-like sections which carry the individualswitching elements 1. Of course, the U-shaped' legs 6 of the profiledrail 2 are constructed proportionately longer. All identical structuralparts are'identified with the same reference numberals as in the abovedescribed first exemplary embodiment. For separating the two conductorsystems, a further separating plate 30 is provided which is illustratedin FIG. 13. It also has holes 41 for receiving the fastening screws 4and markings 42 corresponding with the markings 40 and markings 43 ofthe separating plates 26 and 27, respectively. The holes, which must bepunched according to the desired switching, effect the already abovementioned transfer of the pressure potential from they one conductorsystem to the other, namely, by this means the channels 14 of the firstconductor system (FIG. 11) are connected to the channels 14 of thesecond conductor system. I r

' A third exemplary embodiment of the conductor system is illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15. Here several functional units 60, 61 and 62, consistingof several conductor systems according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and carryingswitching elements 1, are connected to a further conductor system 63which is constructed in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 1 and alsocarries switching elements here identified at 64. The switching elements1 and 64 can be microswitches, trimmer, capacity, signal trans formersand similar elements. The opposingly positioned profiled rails,specifically profiled rail parts 2 and flat rails 5,' are provided withfastening holes 11 and holes 65 and 68 providing guidance for pressuremedium. The pressure potential of the one conductor system 60, 61 or 62is transferred into the other conductor system 63 through the holes 65and 68.

If all possible holes 65 and 68 are provided from the start in the rails2 and 5, then here too a separating plate 66 is provided which has,similar to the described separating plates 26 and 27 or 30, markingswhich lie in the points-of intersection of the common grid, forfacilitating provision of holes 67 which in turn create the requiredconnections between the conductor systems.

The conductor systems are connected by screws 70.

' In this manner it is possible to connect any desired numberof'functional units of different types, including units in more than twoplanes above one another (FIG. 15) to larger functional groups to oneintegrated system and without requiring separateconduits.

As a result of the means above disclosed, the conduc- The embodiments ofthe invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed aredefined as follows: I

1. In a fluid conducting system having at least three substantiallyfiat, superposable fluid conducting plates and a separating platebetween each thereof, said conducting plates and said separating platesbeing artor system consists of layered conducting and separat- I ingplates, the channels and holes of which, serving to create theconducting connections, lie within a common grid similar to a matrix,whereby conducting units are formed according to the switching elementsto be connected and which are repeated as desired. Thus throughseparation or assembly, conductor systems of any desired length can becreated in a very simple manner. The actual conducting connection iscreated by punching holes into the separating plates, which can be donesimply, quickly and cleanly. Conducting plans can, in spite of thelayered constructiombe provided in one plane. The construction of theone cover plate as a profiled rail and its division into cap-likesections simplifies the creation of the switching connection andconsiderably improves the handling and the lifetime.

ranged in a stack to form a system of fluid conductingchannels, theimprovement comprising:

a first one of said fluid conducting plates having a plurality ofcolumns of parallel first elongated channel means therein on one sideopening outwardly of said one side, said first elongated channel meansin each of said columns being separate from each other, a plurality offirst holes in the bottom of each of said first channel means openingoutwardly to the opposite side of said first fluid conducting plate;

a second oneof said fluid conducting plates having a plurality ofcolumns of parallel second elongated channel means therein on one sideopening outwardly of said one side thereof in the same direction'as saidfirst elongated channel means, said second elongated channel means ineach of said columns being separate from each other', a plurality'ofsecond holes in the bottom of each of said second channel means openingoutwardly to the opposite side of said secondfiuid conducting plate, thelongitudinal axes of said first elongated channel means being arrangedat to the longitudinal axes of said second elongated channel means;

a first one of said separating plates directly contacting, on one sidethereof, said oneside of said first fluid conducting plate and, on theother side thereof, said opposite side of said second fluid conductingplate, said first separating plate being made of a perforatable materialand having markings thereon at those locations wherein said.longitudinal axes of said first elongated channel means in each of saidcolumns cross said longitudinal axes of said second elongated channelmeans;

a third one of said fluid conducting plates having a plurality ofcolumns of parallel third elongated channel means therein openingoutwardly to one side thereof in the same direction as said secondholes, the longitudinal axes of said third elongated channel means beingparallel to the longitudinal axes of said second elongated channelmeans, each of said third elongated channel means being positioned onsaid third fluid conducting plate to overlap a pair of the mutuallyadjacent longitudinal end portions in a pairof side-by-side columns ofsaid second elongated channel means; I

- a second one of said separating plates directly contacting, on oneside thereof, said one'side of said third fluid conducting plate and, onthe other side thereof, said second fluid conducting plate, said secondseparating plate being made of a perforatable material and havingmarkings thereon at those locations wherein said overlapped end portionsare aligned with one of said second holes in each of said side-by-sidecolumms whereby a selective per foration of at least one of saidseparating plates at said markings will define a selected system offluid conducting channels; and

securing means for securing said superposable fluid conducting platesand said separating plates into said stack.

2. A fluid conducting system accordng to claim 1, including a base plateand a U-shaped cover plate mounted on said base plate and at leastpartly encloses said stack.

3. A fluid conducting system according to claim 2,

including at least one switching element mounted on said cover plate andincludes means connecting said switching element in fluid circuit withat least one of said columns of elongated channel means.

4. A fluid conducting system according to claim 3, wherein said coverplate includes means defining openings which serve as the input oroutput ports for fluid medium, said openings being threaded andarrangedin vertical alignment with at least some of said locations.

wherein the number of elongated channel means of said first conductingplate is one whole multiple of the number of elongated channel means ofsaid second fluid conducting plate.

7. A fluid conducting system according to claim 6,

wherein said first, second and third conducting plates consist of a softnonmetallic material, preferably plas tic, while said first and secondseparating plates for selectively determining the conduction pathconsists of a hard and thin metallic material, preferably of alumi num.

8. A fluid conducting system according to claim 7, including thecombination of two or more fluid conducting systems having therebetweena further separating plate, said further separating plate havingmarkings at those locations wherein said longitudinal axes of said fluidconducting plates cross each other 9. A fluid conducting systemaccording to claim 1, including means for connecting at least oneadditional stack to said stack and means for connecting the fluidcircuit in said stack with the fluid circuit in said additional stack.

1. In a fluid conducting system having at least three substantiallyflat, superposable fluid conducting plates and a separating platebetween each thereof, said conducting plates and said separating platesbeing arranged in a stack to form a system of fluid conducting channels,the improvement comprising: a first one of said fluid conducting plateshaving a plurality of columns of parallel first elongated channel meanstherein on one side opening outwardly of said one side, said firstelongated channel means in each of said columns being separate from eachother, a plurality of first holes in the bottom of each of said firstchannel means opening outwardly to the opposite side of said first fluidconducting plate; a second one of said fluid conducting plates having aplurality of columns of parallel second elongated channel means thereinon one side opening outwardly of said one side thereof in the samedirection as said first elongated channel means, said second elongatedchannel means in each of said columns being separate from each other, aplurality of second holes in the bottom of each of said second channelmeans opening outwardly to the opposite side of said second fluidconducting plate, the longitudinal axes of said first elongated channelmeans being arranged at 90* to the longitudinal axes of said secondelongated channel means; a first one of said separating plates directlycontacting, on one side thereof, said one side of said first fluidconducting plate and, on the other side thereof, said opposite side ofsaid second fluid conducting plate, said first separating plate beingmade of a perforatable material and having markings thereon at thoselocations wherein said longitudinal axes of said first elongated channelmeans in each of said columns cross said longitudinal axes of saidsecond elongated channel means; a third one of said fluid conductingplates having a plurality of columns of parallel third elongated channelmeans therein opening outwardly to one side thereof in the samedirection as said second holes, the longitudinal axes of said thirdelongated channel means being parallel to the longitudinal axes of saidsecond elongated channel means, each of said third elongated channelmeans being positioned on said third fluid conducting plate to overlap apair of the mutually adjacent longitudinal end portions in a pair ofside-by-side columns of said second elongated channel means; a secondone of said separating plates directly contacting, on one side thereof,said one side of said third fluid conducting plate and, on the otherside thereof, said second fluid conducting plate, said second separatingplate being made of a perforatable material and having markings thereonat those locations wherein said overlapped end portIons are aligned withone of said second holes in each of said side-by-side columms whereby aselective perforation of at least one of separating plates at saidmarkings will define a selected system of fluid conducting channels; andsecuring means for securing said superposable fluid conducting platesand said separating plates into said stack.
 2. A fluid conducting systemaccordng to claim 1, including a base plate and a U-shaped cover platemounted on said base plate and at least partly encloses said stack.
 3. Afluid conducting system according to claim 2, including at least oneswitching element mounted on said cover plate and includes meansconnecting said switching element in fluid circuit with at least one ofsaid columns of elongated channel means.
 4. A fluid conducting systemaccording to claim 3, wherein said cover plate includes means definingopenings which serve as the input or output ports for fluid medium, saidopenings being threaded and arranged in vertical alignment with at leastsome of said locations.
 5. A fluid conducting system according to claim4, wherein a conducting unit is formed by the vertically alignedelongated channel means in two fluid conducting plates.
 6. A fluidconducting system according to claim 5, wherein the number of elongatedchannel means of said first conducting plate is one whole multiple ofthe number of elongated channel means of said second fluid conductingplate.
 7. A fluid conducting system according to claim 6, wherein saidfirst, second and third conducting plates consist of a soft nonmetallicmaterial, preferably plastic, while said first and second separatingplates for selectively determining the conduction path consists of ahard and thin metallic material, preferably of aluminum.
 8. A fluidconducting system according to claim 7, including the combination of twoor more fluid conducting systems having therebetween a furtherseparating plate, said further separating plate having markings at thoselocations wherein said longitudinal axes of said fluid conducting platescross each other.
 9. A fluid conducting system according to claim 1,including means for connecting at least one additional stack to saidstack and means for connecting the fluid circuit in said stack with thefluid circuit in said additional stack.